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Intro to 3D Printing Video Series

3D Printing can be a little tricky to start out and with SO much information it can be a very overwhelming hobby to jump into.

In this thread i will be slowly creating and adding a variety of recommendations for Programs, Printers, Free File sites and Videos from my Youtube Channel to hopefully help guide beginners through the process! This will be an ever-evolving thread starting from very basic instructions into more advanced methods of printing and crafting armor!

If a video you might want hasn't been created yet, Please drop a comment below and i will either move it up my priority list or find you another creator who may have already made a similar video to help you!

Enjoy!

FREE 3D Files and Models

Below is a list of websites to browse for free 3D Models and files to help get you started. While quality on many of these items will vary greatly; especially when compared to paid STL files from a website like DO3D, it will give you small options to test and learn with before making a full scale armor purchase!

https://www.thingiverse.com/

https://cults3d.com/en

https://www.myminifactory.com/

DO3D has also provided a thread where they add FREE STL files they designed! So make sure to check those out too!

FREE DO3D Files!

Hardware and Software Recommendations

Below is a list of my personal recommendations for Software and Hardware to get you started! I use most of these items in my tutorial videos as well!

Software

Ultimaker Cura - Free! A very intuitive but easy to use 3D Printing Software. This program alone coupled with any 3D Printer is all you need to get started! Constant updates and a HUGE variety of features.

Slic3R - Free! Similar to Cura, this is a 3D Printing program. Sadly, support and updates for it lack; However it has a beautifully easy to use "Cut" and 'Split" feature for breaking up 3D Prints into multiple parts!

Hardware

The items and links listed below are recommendations and examples only. They can also be purchased at outlets like Amazon, Bangood, and Microcenter. So shop around!

Creality Ender-3 Pro - This is THE ULTIMATE starter printer. If you've done any research about the hobby you'll see this one pop up all over the place. Small. Simple. Easy to use. It's the perfect setup to learn and get started; But also still very powerful and a good part of any printing setup! It can be used to print smaller prop parts and helmets in multiple smaller pieces. Even if you outgrow it and move onto bigger printers i promise you'll still have it working hard, printing smaller items!

Creality CR-10 V2 - If you've been researching Cosplay or Props you probably saw "CR-10" pop up somewhere. It's the perfect size. Next to the Ender-3 this may be one of the most popular printers for hobbyists; If not THE go to Printer for Cosplayers. It JUST received a new "V2" update to keep it in the game with other printers. The original CR-10 was amazing but suffered with age as technology advanced. Requiring upgrades. This new V2 Version takes the jump again. And even host's more features to let you upgrade it even more! Large enough to print multiple types of helmets, armor parts and props in 1 shot!

Creality CR-10 PRO V2 - Very similar to the normal CR-10 and CR-10 V2; this is the "Pro" version, already boasting some of the more desirable upgrades such as Auto-Leveling assist and beefier hardware. It also has a very nice flowing touchscreen for ease of use. This printer will come more "ready to go" out of box than the previous 2 however the price reflects the luxury. It's hard to decide between the V2 and Pro V2 so make sure to read the specs and features before making a choice.

How to 3D Print - General Overview

In this first video i will cover the basics. What IS 3D Printing? How does it work? How much does it cost to jump in? By the end of the video i promise you will have a better understanding of what you'll need to get started and what's to be expected on the road ahead!

How to 3D Print - Hardware Basics

In this 2nd video I break down and explain what MAKES a 3D Printer tick. What get's hot? What moves? How do you set it up? By the end of this video you will have a much better understanding of the process of physically printing something and be more comfortable with the terminology!

How to 3D Print - Software Basics

(Coming soon!)

How to Position Parts for 3D Printing - Helmets

In this video i cover the basics of splitting up and arranging parts for helmets in Cura while utilizing Slic3r to cut the files up! This method can be utilized across many other helmets and parts! This is only a small dive into the features and possibilities!